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Politics & Government

Constituent Power and Constitutional Change

Quick fact

The distinction between 'constituent power' (the people's power to create a constitution) and 'constituted power' (the government's power under that constitution) was formalized by French thinker Emmanuel Sieyès in 1789, and it explains why some constitutional changes are seen as revolutionary rather than merely legal.

Why this is interesting

Every country has a constitution, but who actually has the power to write it—and to change it? The answer reveals a fascinating puzzle at the heart of democracy.